Fastener for metallic tubular furniture



April 23, 1957 M. LlEF FASTENER FOR METALLIC TUBULAR FURNITURE Filed' May 14, 1954 IN VHV TOR.

MILTON LIEF United States Patent FASTENERFOR METALLIC TUBULAR FURNITURE Milton lLief, Olivette, Mo., assignor to Chromcraft Corporation, a corporationpf lVlissouri APPlic i iQnM y 1411 .55, sfi fial t ,32 Claims. 'J(];285''-188) Thi ven io a e atesi tssnera t rt in a u ef l improvement in m talli ub a furni mor particularly. t a knockdownab tls constru ti n an e e s msn t ere o .Inth ma t c ureo fu nitur anipart s i a y turn ture {in which the legs :and, related structural parts are ma r m m al i t bing, t sJi sh y d sirab to ma provision for shipment .in ascgmpaetform as possible to minimize transportation costs and breakage. However,

:tables .must havesturdy, rigid legs and, consequently,

existing types ,of knockdown constructions ,are complicated and difiicult to assemblewithout tools. liurtl' ermore, considerable mechanical, skill .is-iordinarily required to assemble such leg constructions properly.

it is, therefore, the primary objectof thepresent invention to prove aunique type of lgnockdowntable leg constmotio a fasten e emen fo (us .in soniun i therewith which ,is simple, inexpensive, convenient, and canbe readily assembled ordisassembled without special tools and without technical skill.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a table leg construction-by which. a table of the metallic tubular type canbe packed rfor, shipment an shipped with legs removed and can theerafter be quickly set up for ultimate use an wi resu in .a tab ha ng sturdy. rigid legs which are highly;attrac tive in appearance.

Withthe above. and otherobjects inview, my invention r i i t rnovel fea ur .fo m, con ru tio rangement,. and .Combination of parts presently described and pointed outin theclaims.

.In t ecomp yin d w ng sheet)- Figure 1 is a fragmentary p rs ectiv view showin a rn rot ait l ha ing a legrs iist uction embo yi the present invention;

.Figure .2 is a perspective view of a iastener. element m ng a pa o th rp e in nt on;

Fi u 3 s ran v rs sectiona Vi w ake lon line 3--3 of .Figure 1.

Figure a gmentary ve tica section i wtsk along line 44,vof-Fi gure 3;

Figur s 5 a d Gare. fta ment rylvertica section l v ew ke spe e y alon l nes5-15 an 6-60 Fig and Fig 7 .i l .f a m ntery verti al estisna View O a m difi rm l s-const uctione bodyi th present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a table having a somewhatrectanghlar top 1 and a depending marginal flange 2 or apron as it is called. 'Detachably fastened in-any suitable or conventional manner t0-tl1e under side --of the --table top 1 in each corner is a legassembly Sconsisting of -t-wo companion-shaped-tubular members 4, 5, which are curved upwardly and divergently with respect to-eaeh other at theirupper ends for engagement -with-the securement meansby whichthe leg-assernbly 3 is-fastened to the tabletop 1. .uAsseenby reference .to Figure 3, the tubular memberstl, 5, eachhave cylinprovided with registering apertures i6, .7 having central circular o e in an wdj ai et aily oppo -slot-lik no tions ext ndinsi a substan ia ve isa v e tion, th i t y. alonsa art. .lli o h tubula memb r 4, ,5.

vide -f0rQPI3iiQ w t the tub lar m mb 4, is a ta ns elsiiisn tfermet n rsm meta o -st a upset in m ohia ror byna vo s lso sb m or p edur ans int srsily includ n a d-lik shank 8 having ahead9, the latter being fOrrned ith a fiatsback e 10, ffla a pp andbottamt se 1 .12 an n abutment fa o-lfiiw ikh isa s lind sa sect o nsh p one of the tubular men bers 4, 5. The sh 8 isproi e a e t rssion of it isti r wi h h 9 with diametrally opposite upstrucl; ears 1 4, 14', which are more or less perpendicular to the faces 1 1, l 2, and are of such size and shape as to fit snugly within the slot-like Portions of t a tures and adjac nt it oute snd, t e

shank 8 is similarly provided .with upstruek earsl5, 15,

of m shape a se es. buthcst da 0, ou the periphery of the shank 8 with refereneeto, the ears 14, 14. It will, of course be priderstood that the ears 15, will either thsan rtu 6s t e ass u e 7 o that t h n ri ntsrshsasosbl wit respect to the, tubular members 4,5.

Alsoprovidedrior eta-operation withj he tubular memb r are e -p pref ra molded f styrene resin and integrally including a button-shaped glide-portion 17 and a tubular coll ar 11 8 having outwardly presented radial flutes 19 for jam-fitted retentiveer gagement within the otherwise ,open ends of the tubular members 4,5. As will be seen by reference to Figures 4- and 5, the collar 18 is cut away alongits upperrn'argin to provide a rectilinear recess20 adapted to fit around the head 9 of the fastener F and hold the latterfromshifting longitudinally when the tubular members 4, 5, are in assembled relation.

Assuming thatthe table A has beenrshipped in lgnockdown condition and is being assembled by the fur ture dea or Pu h a h as m be th eszes smbii therefor are set up by placing thei fastener'F in the vtubular member 4,,f0r in an o tha thsi ssd itiitis l ina direction aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the t s n mbs tt th p siti e-th stat an ears 15,15, can be pushedthroughthe aperture 6 and rotated until the abutment face .13 is pressed tightly against the interior surface of the tub ular member 43nd the ears 14, 14',are retentivelylocked in the slo t-like portions of the aperture '6. *Thereupon, one of theend-plugs 16, with ,its recess 20 in proper alignment, is pushed up into the end of the tubular member 4 to engage the head-9. The ears15,'1 5, are now at right angles to-the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 4, andthus the two tubular rnemberst, 5, are swung into a position at'right angles to eachother sothat the ears *15,- 1'5',-will line up With-the slot-like portions of the aperture- 7, whereupon, the pro- -t-ruding portion of the -shank 8-will pass through the aperture" 7. -:"I hereupon, the tubularrnemberggl 5,. are -"swungbackinto .the alignedpositionsshownsin Figure 1 and the cars :15, 15, twilltextend chordwise; acrossthe in- .aerior of the tubular members? and ibitfi slightly theneinto arsasae to form a tight frictional engagement therewith. It should be pointed out in this connection that the dimensions of the ears 15, 1S, and the distance thereof from the ears 14-, 14', must be such that the cars 15, 15' will have a squeeze-fit, so to speak, and will also place the shank 8 in substantial tension drawing the tubular members 4, 5, tightly together.

It should also be pointed out that, notwithstanding the foregoing description, the leg-assembly 3 can be shipped with the fastener F and the end-plugs 16 in place, so that the user needs only to insert the protruding end of the shank 8 into the aperture 7 and swing the tubular members 4, 5, into alignment in order to have a tightly connected, rigid leg-assembly which can be attached to the table top.

If desired, it is possible to provide a modified form of leg-assembly 3', as shown in Figure 7, which is substantially identical with the leg-construction previously described and includes legs 4, 5', having apertures 6', 7', which are similar to the previously described apertures 6, 7, except that they are located higher up. The legs 4', 5, are held together by a fastener F identical in all details with the previously described fastener F. Pressfitted in the lower ends of the legs, 4, 5', are end plugs 16', which are similar to the end plugs 16 and include a glide portion 17 and a tubular collar 18. The collar 18, however, is not cut away to provide the recess 20 which is employed in the previously described fastener F, but the head of the fastener F is, instead, spot-welded in place after assembly.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the metallic tubular furniture may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fastener for use with pieces of hollow tubing which are adapted when in assembled relation to extend in sideby-side contiguity for a substantial portion of their length and are provided in such contiguous portions with matching apertures each having a pair of diametrally opposite relatively narrow slots extending axially along the pieces of tubing; said fastener having a shank sized and shaped for disposition through said apertures, a head element formed integrally on one end of the shank and having its under face convex and conforming to the section of a cylinder, a first pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank adjacent to the head element, said protuberances extending along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical section forming the under face of the head element for engagement in the slots of one of the pieces of tubing, and a second pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank in axially spaced relation to the first pair of protuberances and disposed along a line at right angles to the line of the first pair of protuberances for tight frictional engagement with the interior surfaces of the other piece of tubing adjacent to the apertures thereof and substantially at right angles to the slots of said last-named aperture when the pieces of tubing are in assembled relation.

2. A fastener for use with pieces of hollow tubing of circular cross-section adapted, when in assembled relation, to extend in side-by-side contiguity for a substantial portion of their length and being provided in such contiguous portion with matching apertures each having a pair of diametrally opposite relatively narrow slots extending axially along the pieces of hollow tubing, said pieces of tubing also having opposed diverging arcuate interior surface portions; said fastener having a shank sized and shaped for disposition through said apertures, a head element formed integrally on one end of the shank and having its under face matching and conforming to the arcuate interior surface of one of the pieces of tubing,

a first pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank adjacent the head element, said first pair of protuberances extending along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the arcuate section forming the under face of the head element for engagement in the slots of said one of the pieces of tubing, and a second pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank in axially spaced relation to the first pair of protuberances and disposed along a line at right angles to the line of the first pair of protuberances, whereby rotation of the pieces of tubing from a position at right angles to each other to the side-by-side assembled relation will cause said second pair of protuberances to extend chordwise across and frictionally engage the arcuate interior surface portion of the other piece of tubing adjacent the aperture thereof, and substantially at right angles to the slots therein, to place said shank in tension and draw said pieces of tubing together.

3. A fastener for use with pieces of hollow tubing of circular cross-section adapted, when in assembled relation, to extend in side-by-side contiguity for a substantial portion of their length. and being provided in such contiguous portions with matching apertures each having a pair of diametrally opposite relatively narrow slots extending axially along the pieces of hollow tubing, said pieces of tubing also having opposed diverging cylindrical interior surface portions; said fastener having a shank sized and shaped for disposition through said apertures, a head element formed integrally on one end of the shank and having a cylindrical under face matching and conforming to the cylindrical interior surface of one of the pieces of tubing, a first pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank adjacent the head element, said first pair of protuberances extending along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical section forming the under face of the head element for engagement in the slots of said one of the pieces of tubing, and a second pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank in axially spaced relation to the first pair of protuberances and disposed along a line at right angles to the line of the first pair of protuberances, whereby rotation of the pieces of tubing from a position at right angles to each other to the side-by-side assembled relation will cause said second pair of protuberances to extend chordwise across and frictionally engage the cylindrical interior surface portion of the other piece of tubing adjacent the aperture thereof, and substantially at right angles to the slots therein, to place said shank in tension and draw said ieces of tubing together.

4. A fastener for use With a pair of table leg members of circular cross-section adapted, when in assembled relation, to extend in side-by-side contiguity for a substantial portion of their length and being provided in such contiguous portions with matching apertures each having a pair of diametrally opposite relatively narrow slots extending axially along the leg members, said leg members also having opposed diverging arcuate interior surface portions; said fastener having a shank sized and shaped for disposition through said apertures, a head element formed integrally on one end of the shank and having its under face matching and conforming to the arcuate interior surface of one of the leg members, a first pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank adjacent the head element, said first pair of protuberances extending along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the arcuate section forming the under face of the head element for engagement in the slots of said one of the leg members, and a second pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank in axially spaced relation to the first pair of protuberances and disposed along a line at right angles to the line of the first pair of protuberances, whereby rotation of the leg members from a position at right angles to each other to the side-by-side assembled relation will cause said second pair of protuberances to extend chordwise across and frictionally engage the arcuate interior surface portion of the other leg member adjacent the aperture thereof, and substantially at right angles to the slots therein, to place said shank in tension and draw said leg members together.

5. A fastener for use with pieces of hollow tubing of circular cross-section adapted, when in assembled relation, to extend in side-by-side contiguity for a substantial portion of their length and being provided in such contiguous portions with matching apertures-each having a pair of diametrally opposite relatively narrow slots ex tending axially along the pieces of hollow tubing, said pieces of tubing also having opposed diverging arcuate interior surface portions; said fastener having a shank sized and shaped for disposition through said apertures, a head element formed integrally on one end of the shank and having its under face matching and conforming to the arcuate interior surface of one of the pieces of tubing, a first pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank adjacent the head element, said first pair of protuberances extending along a line substantially parallel to the axis of the arcuate section forming theunder face of the head element for engagement in the slots of said one of the pieces of tubing, and a second pair of oppositely projecting protuberances formed on the shank in axially spaced relation to the first pair of protuberances and disposed along a line at right angles to the line of the first pair of protuberances, whereby rotation of the tubular members from a position at an angle to each other to the side-by-side assembled relation will cause said second pair of protuberances to extend chordwise across and frictionally engage the arcuate interior surface portion of the other piece of tubing adjacent the aperture thereof, and at an angle to the slots therein, to place said shank in tension and draw said pieces of tubing together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,147 Dunlap Nov. 30, 1915 1,183,645 Hubbard May 16, 1916 1,210,595 Brubaker Jan. 2, 1917 1,951,499 Brown Mar. 20, 1934 2,504,358 Swanson Apr. 18, 1950 2,507,348 Peterson May 9, 1950 2,601,213 Poupitch June 17, 1952 2,613,957 Ritter Oct. 14, 1952 2,620,539 Poupitch Dec. 9, 1952 2,665,927 Becker Jan. 12, 1954 2,704,870 Becker Mar. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,005 Great Britain June 27, I912 

